Epic Games, maker of 'Fortnite' to pay $520 million to US govt for allegedly 'misleading players'
Fortnite maker Epic Games has consented to pay $520 million to resolve US government charges that it tricked players, including youngsters and adolescents, into making unanticipated purchases and violated a major federal children's privacy legisla...
By ET Spotlight Special |
Agencies
As part of the deal, Epic Games will pay the US government $275 million to settle charges that violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting personal information from children under 13 without obtaining verified consent from them their parents.
According to the FTC, this is the biggest fine it has ever issued for enforcing a regulation. In a separate agreement, Epic will pay $245 million in reimbursements to users who were allegedly damaged by fraudulent user-interface design decisions, according to the FTC. According to the FTC, this deal is the biggest regulatory order in FTC history.
According to FTC Chair Lina Khan, the settlement underscores the agency's increased attention to privacy and so-called "dark patterns," which are design aspects meant to urge users toward a company's favored conclusion.
The FTC also claimed that Epic made canceling purchases of in-game products more complicated by concealing the option at the bottom of the screen and requiring customers to touch and hold a button on the gamepad to execute the cancellation.
According to the FTC, this is the biggest fine it has ever issued for enforcing a regulation. In a separate agreement, Epic will pay $245 million in reimbursements to users who were allegedly damaged by fraudulent user-interface design decisions, according to the FTC. According to the FTC, this deal is the biggest regulatory order in FTC history.
What have Epic Games and FTC said?
Epic stated in a blog post on the settlements that it shows a shift in how US regulations are implemented in the video game industry. No developer designs a videogame for ending up "here," they stated. They stated they embraced the arrangement since they want Epic to remain on the cutting edge of consumer safety and give the finest user experience possible.According to FTC Chair Lina Khan, the settlement underscores the agency's increased attention to privacy and so-called "dark patterns," which are design aspects meant to urge users toward a company's favored conclusion.
Chinese consumer electronics brand, Nubia, is gearing up for the launch of its latest smartphones - the Red Magic 8 Series. A successor to the Nubia Red Magic 7 series, the Red Magic 8 series will offer two handsets - Red Magic 8 and Red Magic 8 Pro.
The FTC also claimed that Epic made canceling purchases of in-game products more complicated by concealing the option at the bottom of the screen and requiring customers to touch and hold a button on the gamepad to execute the cancellation.
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According to the FTC, they made such design adjustments after studies revealed that inadvertent charges were the "number one reason" people clicked on whenever the cancellation button was more clearly displayed.FAQs:
- Did Fortnite ever charge a fee?
Fortnite is free to play, but you can extend your Battle Royale season by purchasing a season battle pass for the equivalent of £6.49. - Is Fortnite still available on mobile?
Yes.
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